Photo by: Ron MacArthurThe number of RV campground sites could grow substantially if two proposed projects are approved by Sussex County Council. Combined, the two would contain more than 830 RV sites.

It's been seven months since the public record was closed and nearly six months since the last action on applications for the controversial Love Creek RV Resort and Campground. It's been about the same amount of time since the record was closed on two similar applications for a second proposed campground, Castaways at Massey's Landing.

The county's planning and zoning commission has recommended approval of both projects.

County Council President Mike Vincent, R-Seaford, said a charge by Councilwoman Joan Deaver, D-Rehoboth Beach, that he is blocking further action is unfounded.

At the end of the Jan. 28 meeting, Deaver asked Vincent to put the Love Creek applications on the Feb. 4 agenda. “I was told he's not ready, and it would not be on the agenda,” Deaver said. “This is very upsetting to me and upsetting to the people.”

Vincent said he is not stonewalling the process. He said he is following county council protocol, and he plans to get the two RV park applications on an agenda within the next two to three months. He said it's the president's prerogative when the two issues get placed on an agenda for a vote.

He said council policies and procedures allow for a council member to request an application be placed on an agenda within 45 days after the record has been closed. That request was not made.

After that time period, it's up to the council president when the matter gets on the agenda, Vincent said. He says the Massey's Landing project will be first on an agenda within the next three to four weeks because it was the first one acted on by the county's planning and zoning commission. The Love Creek project applications will follow within another month or so.

Vincent said he has a matter-of-fact way of approaching complex applications that have hundreds of pages of documentation and hours and hours of testimony. “I need time to read through every document, and then if I have questions, I talk with staff,” he said. “The only hold up is me because I need the time to understand every aspect on both sides.”

Jack Lingo Asset Management has filed two applications for Love Creek RV Resort and Campground off Cedar Grove Road between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. The developer is asking for a conditional use and a zoning change from GR, general-residential district, to AR-1, agricultural residential, for 74 acres of the parcel. If approved, the entire 162-acre parcel would be zoned AR-1. Campgrounds are not permitted in GR zones, prompting the zoning-change request.

Included on the site plan are 628 camping sites: 516 for recreational vehicles, 30 for tents and another 82 sites for rental cabins. Proposed amenities are an amphitheater/chapel, welcome center, fitness center, laundry, clubhouse, general store, several pavilions and paddle boat launches, canoe outfitter, pumping station, swimming ponds, pools and RV storage.

County council's public hearing on the Love Creek applications was Feb. 9, 2013. Planning and zoning made its recommendation Aug. 22.

Meanwhile, a final decision on a pair of applications for another RV park – this one in Massey's Landing – are also on hold. County council held its public hearing June 18 and planning and zoning made its recommendation June 27.

The developers, Ida Faucett and Ida Faucett Heirs LLC and Massey's Landing Park Inc., have filed applications for a zoning change on a 51-acre parcel from MR, medium-density residential, to AR-1, agricultural residential, and a conditional-use to allow the campground. A campground is not permitted in MR zoning.

Opponents of a proposed RV park near Lewes are using a Sussex County financial report to show that home construction on the same 162-acre parcel would result in millions more dollars in revenue to the county through taxes and building related fees.

During testimony at two public hearings, Greg Kordal, a resident of The Retreat at Love Creek, said 315 homes built on the 162-acre parcel would generate almost $1 million more in one-time revenue and more than $240,000 in annual revenue to the county. Kordal said over 20 years, 315 home sites would generate more than $9 million in revenue compared to just under $3 million by the RV park.

Nick Hammonds, representing the developer, said the RV park would have several positive economic impacts including job creation with construction and ongoing full and part-time employment with incremental employment at businesses used by campers such as restaurants.

He said the park owner would pay gross receipts, income, payroll, property and franchise taxes as well as water and sewer impact fees, ongoing utility service charges and license and permit fees, which all contribute to county or state revenue.

Hammonds said the average tourist coming to Delaware spends $564 per trip and $104 per day. “Additionally, many people that visit this area fall in love with it and end up purchasing a home,” Hammonds said.

Jack Lingo Asset Management has two applications pending for Love Creek RV Resort and Campground. The developer is asking for a conditional use and a zoning change from GR, general-residential district, to AR-1, agricultural residential, for 74 acres of the parcel. If approved, the entire 162-acre parcel would be zoned AR-1. Campgrounds are prohibited in GR zones.

Included on the site plan are 628 camping sites: 516 for recreational vehicles, 30 for tents and another 82 sites for rental cabins.

The public record on the applications has been left open until at least the end of March. Sussex County planning and zoning commissioners and county council members voted to leave it open to accept comments from state transportation officials on the developer's traffic impact study.

A drawing of the proposed Love Creek RV Resort and Campground near Lewes, Del., has been superimposed on this photo by Ron Arthur for the Cape Gazette.

Opponents of a proposed RV park near Lewes, Del., are using a Sussex County financial report to show that home construction on the same 162-acre parcel would result in millions more dollars in revenue to the county through taxes and building related fees.

During testimony at two public hearings, Greg Kordal, a resident of The Retreat at Love Creek, said 315 homes built on the 162-acre parcel would generate almost $1 million more in one-time revenue and more than $240,000 in annual revenue to the county. Kordal said over 20 years, 315 home sites would generate more than $9 million in revenue compared to just under $3 million by the RV park, The Cape Gazette reported.

Nick Hammonds, representing the developer, said the RV park would have several positive economic impacts including job creation with construction and ongoing full and part-time employment with incremental employment at businesses used by campers such as restaurants.

He said the park owner would pay gross receipts, income, payroll, property and franchise taxes as well as water and sewer impact fees, ongoing utility service charges and license and permit fees, which all contribute to county or state revenue.

Hammonds said the average tourist coming to Delaware spends $564 per trip and $104 per day. “Additionally, many people that visit this area fall in love with it and end up purchasing a home,” Hammonds said.

Jack Lingo Asset Management has two applications pending for Love Creek RV Resort and Campground. The developer is asking for a conditional use and a zoning change from GR, general-residential district, to AR-1, agricultural residential, for 74 acres of the parcel. If approved, the entire 162-acre parcel would be zoned AR-1. Campgrounds are prohibited in GR zones.